Page 81 of Desperate Measures
It was a strange man’s voice, lightly accented, but one I did not recognize.
“You think you’re doing him any favors by forcing him to stay married to you?”
“E-Excuse me? Who is this?”
“You think he can just walk away from his promises to my daughter?”
“I-I don’t know what you are talking about?—”
“Do not be foolish. Liam O’Doyle has obligations, promises he must keep. Leave him now, while he is still in one piece. This is the last warning I will give you.”
The line went dead as I pulled to a stop in front of my uncle’s home. Behind the line of cars that had arrived ahead of me.
A parking valet came and opened my door, but I remained frozen for another minute.
My thoughts were deafening. So loud, they drowned everything else out. My heart raced as my brain filled with doubt and uncertainties.
Oh, I had an idea of who was on that call, but as to what he was talking about, that part remained a mystery.
“Miss? Shall I bring your bags up to the house?”
“Yes? Oh, um, no thanks, it’s just the one. I can get it,” I grabbed my small rolling suitcase and pulled it behind me up the freshly shoveled path that led to the front door.
Clementine was already opening it, her face bright and vibrant with holiday cheer, and I suspected a few cups of her mother’s famous rum punch.
“Micky! Come on, get dressed in my room,” she said, pulling me with her.
This was a formal affair, and she looked stunning in a jade green ankle length gown that was covered in sparkles.
I was grateful for her chatter as she explained who had arrived already and what guests were staying for the weekend.
“Lucy and Aella are already here, but they went to the stables to see Gingerbread’s new foal. She’s so cute, wait till you—whoa. You’re white as a sheet, Micky. What’s wrong?” she asked, pushing me onto her bed.
I lifted my head, like I was seeing her for the first time even though I’d been there for a full ten minutes.
“What’s wrong? Oh well, I guess I should start by saying I’m a big fat liar,” I said, lips wobbling as tears pricked my eyes.
“Hey! You’re here!”
Aella and Lucy came busting into the bedroom with Andrea and a couple more of my cousins with them.
Seeing them all so happy and carefree was just the last straw. I started crying. Like full on bawling.
“Oh my God!”
“Mick, what is it?”
The door opened again. This time it was my aunts.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Is that my baby?” my mother came in next with my little sister Leanna.
Next thing I knew, it was a whole family reunion, and I was a sobbing, incoherent mess.
Just feeling my mother’s soft embrace holding me to her was exactly what I needed. It was like truth serum. In seconds, I was confessing everything.
I told them what happened to me in that nightclub all those years ago. I told them how Margaret O’Doyle kept my secret in exchange for a promise and how I paid her back by marrying her brother at her request.